Solar powered bait box

Abstract

Improvements in the use of solar cell panels with respect to certain fishing equipment; providing solar cell panel power for aerators used in water containing live bait held in bait buckets or containers; a solar cell panel or panels mounted on, in or in conjunction with top closure members of live bait containers for fishing wherein the position of the top can be adjusted from horizontal to receive maximum solar energy by tilting the top closure and properly positioning the live bait container with respect to the position of the sun; live fishing bait containers utilizing an aerator therein for the water receiving the live bait inside the container wherein the aerator is alternately driveable by a solar cell panel incorporated into the top closure member of the bait container or a separate battery, said battery being rechargeable and also rechargeable from energy provided by the solar cell panel array.

We claim: 
     
       1. A live fishing bait bucket or container having a normally substantially vertical side wall with a normally substantially horizontal bottom wall, said container adapted to receive therewithin a body of water to receive and maintain live fishing bait such as minnows therewithin, the upper surface of the body of water being positioned below the top end of the container, said closure having an openable and closeable top cover or lid therewith,   an electric motor powered aerator device within said container operable to aerate a body of water received in said container,   a solar cell panel mounted on the upper surface of the container cover or lid having positive and negative electrical current terminals associated therewith so that current may be drawn from the solar panel,   a pair of insulated electric wires communicating through said container top or lid from the solar panel electrical terminals to the electrical terminals associated with said aerator electrical motor,   one upper end of said wires removably connected to the current outlet terminals of the solar panel and the other ends of said wires connectible to the power terminals of the aerator electric motor.   
     
     
       2. A container as in claim 1 including a rechargeable battery associated with said container and having positive and negative posts or terminals associated therewith, a second pair of insulated electric wires or lines removably connectible at their outer ends to the said battery posts, said second pair of wires removably connectible at their inner ends to the upper outer ends of the first pair of wires, whereby electrical energy from the battery may drive the aerator electric motor independent of any current from the solar panel array, the inner ends of the second pair of wires alternatively connectible to the power terminals of the solar cell panel whereby the battery may be recharged by electrical energy from the solar panel.